Robust error correction encoding/decoding apparatus and method of digital dual-stream broadcast reception/transmission system

ABSTRACT

An error correction encoding and/or decoding apparatus and method of a digital dual-stream broadcast transmission and/or reception system. An error correction encoding apparatus includes a TRS encoding part to apply the transversal encoding to normal data packets and robust data packets and to append parity packets to the normal data packet and robust data packet, a randomization unit to randomize the data packets and the parity packets according to a predetermined pattern, an RS encoding unit to append parities to the randomized data packets and parity packets, a packet format unit to split the data packets and the parity packets into normal data and robust data and to process the normal and robust data, and a system control unit to control the packet format unit. Accordingly, a robust error correction encoding apparatus can be provided for the digital dual-stream broadcast transmission system to which Transversal Reed-Solomon (TRS) encoding is applied.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of prior U.S.provisional Patent Application No. 60/516,270 filed on Nov. 3, 2003.This application claims benefit from Korean Patent Application No.2004-14054, filed on Mar. 2, 2004, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to an error correctionencoding and/or decoding apparatus used with US ATSC standard of digitalterrestrial broadcast reception/transmission systems, and moreparticularly, to a robust error correction encoding and/or decodingapparatus and method of digital dual-stream broadcastreception/transmission systems which split data into normal and robustdata for processing, receiving, and transmitting the data.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, an error correction apparatus has been used for correctingerrors occurring when digital signals are transmitted from an encoder toa decoder. Since an ATSC standard was adopted in a digital signaltransmission/reception a system, various types of error correctionapparatuses have been proposed. However, the conventional errorcorrection apparatus are not effective to correct errors occurringduring transmitting ATSC standard signals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above and/or other problems, it is an aspect ofthe present general inventive concept to provide an error correctionencoding and/or decoding apparatus and method of a digital dual-streambroadcast reception and/or transmission system to which a transversalreed Solomon encoding and/or decoding method is applied.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing an error correctionencoding apparatus of a digital dual-stream broadcast transmissionsystem comprising a Transversal Reed-Solomon (TRS) encoding part toapply a transversal encoding to normal data packets and robust datapackets and to append parity packets, a randomization unit to randomizethe data packets and the parity packets according to a predeterminedpattern, an RS encoding unit to encode the randomized data packets andparity packets and to append parities of predetermined bytes to the datapackets and the parity packets, a packet format unit to split the datapackets and the parity packets into normal data and robust data and toprocess the normal and robust data according to respective data formats,and a system control unit to control the packet format unit to split thedata packets and the parity packets into the normal data and the robustdata and to process the data packets and the parity packetscorresponding to the split normal and robust data.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an error correctionencoding apparatus of a digital dual-stream broadcast transmissionsystem comprising a randomization unit to randomize normal data packetsand robust data packets according to a predetermined pattern, a TRSencoding part to apply a transversal encoding to the randomized normaldata packets and robust data packets and appending parity packets, an RSencoding unit to append parities of predetermined bytes to the datapackets and the parity packets, a packet format unit to split the datapackets and the parity packets into normal data and robust data and toprocess the split normal and robust data according to respective dataformats, and a system control unit to control the packet format unit tosplit into the normal data and the robust data and to process the datapackets and the parity packets corresponding to the normal and robustdata. The randomization unit can randomize the parity packets inaccordance with a predetermined pattern.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an error correctionencoding apparatus of a digital dual-stream broadcast transmissionsystem comprising a randomization unit to randomize normal data packetsand robust data packets according to a predetermined pattern, an RSencoding unit to append parities of predetermined bytes to the datapackets, a TRS encoding part to apply the transversal encoding to thedata packets and appending parity packets, and a packet format unit tosplit the data packets and the parity packets into normal data androbust data and to process the normal and robust data according torespective data formats, wherein the randomization unit randomizes theparity packets according to the predetermined pattern and the RSencoding unit appends the parity of predetermined bytes to therandomized parity packets.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing an error correctiondecoding apparatus of digital dual-stream broadcast reception systemscomprising a packet re-format unit to split input data packets andparity packets into normal data and robust data and to process thenormal and robust data according to respective data formats, an RSdecoding unit to correct errors of the packets using parities ofpredetermined bytes included in the packets, ade-randomization/randomization unit to de-randomize the packetscorresponding to error correction encoding and a TRS decoding part tocorrect errors of the packets using the parity packets, wherein thede-randomization/randomization unit randomizes the packetserror-corrected in the TRS decoding part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are block diagrams schematically showing an errorcorrection encoding and/or decoding apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcasttransmission system according to an embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 4A through FIG. 4C are views showing structures of dual-streamtransmission data frames used in the error correction encoding apparatusof FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcasttransmission system according to another embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcasttransmission system according to another embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a TRS encoding part of the errorcorrection encoding apparatus shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 8;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctiondecoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcast receptionsystem according to another embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a TRS decoding unit of the error correctiondecoding apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an error correction decoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an error correction decoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatuses shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present general inventive concept by referring to thefigures.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are block diagrams schematically showing a US ATSCstandard reception and/or transmission system disclosed in Korean PatentApplication No 2003-67522 filed by the Applicants.

In a transmission system as shown in FIG. 1, a Transversal Reed Solomon(TRS) encoding unit 12 produces parity packets in columns with respectto MPEG2-TS packets stored in a storage unit 11, and a header insertionunit 13 inserts parity packet headers (PIDs) for compatibility withexisting reception systems. Next, data packets and the parity packetsare randomized in a certain pattern by a randomization unit 14, and anRS encoding unit 15 generates and adds 20-byte parities to the datapackets and the parity packets.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a reception systemcorresponding to the reception/transmission system shown in FIG. 1. Thereception system may include an RS decoding unit 21, a randomizationunit (re-randomization and/or randomization unit) 22, a storage unit 23,a TRS decoding unit 24, and a de-randomization unit 25. The RS decodingunit 21 can correct errors of data packets and parity packets in a rowdirection using 20-byte parities added to individual packets.

The randomization unit 22 de-randomizes the data packets and the paritypackets error-corrected in the row direction by the RS decoding unit 21,and stores the de-randomized data packets and parity packets in thestorage unit 23. The TRS decoding unit 24 corrects data packet errors ina column direction using the de-randomized parity packets, and updatesthe stored data.

Next, the randomization unit 22 randomizes the de-randomized datapackets and parity packets, and the RS decoding unit 21 corrects errorsin the row direction and the column direction using the parity packetsonce more, and the de-randomization unit 25 de-randomizes the packets.

As described above, the TRS encoding and decoding system can be appliedto the digital dual-stream broadcast receptions and transmissions, thedata packets and the parity packets split into normal and robust dataare sent together.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcasttransmission system according to an embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. The error correction encoding apparatus as shown inFIG. 3 may include a TRS encoding part 310, a randomization unit 320, aReed Solomon (RS) encoding unit 330, a packet format part 350, aninterleaving unit 380, a Trellis encoding unit 370, and a system controlunit 360.

The TRS encoding part 310 may have a storage unit 311, an N/R TRSencoding unit 312, and a PID insertion unit 313, applies transversalencoding to normal data packets and robust data packets to generateparity packets, and inserts packet headers (PIDs) in the generatedparity packets.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are views showing structures of dual-stream transmissiondata frames used in the error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 3.In FIGS. 4A to 4C, the dual-stream transmission data frames can bestructured with normal data and robust data.

The TRS encoding part 310 can apply the transversal encoding to datapackets (a) and (b) to append the parity packets to data packets (a) and(b), and the parity packets (a) and (b) can be appended in two methodsas follows.

In a first method, as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, (M2-K2) there is amethod of appending normal parity packets (M1-K1) and robust paritypackets (M2-K2) to normal data packets K1 and robust data packets (K2),respectively. As shown in FIG. 4C, there is a method of appending paritypackets to the entire packets of the normal data packets K1 and therobust data packets K2.

The randomization unit 320 can randomize the data packets and the paritypackets in a predetermined pattern. The RS encoding unit 330 can appenda parity of bytes to each of the randomized packets.

The packet format part 350 may have a demultiplexer 351, an R packetprocessor 353, and a multiplexer 355, can split (process) input packetsinto the normal data and the robust data and can process the normal androbust data corresponding to packet formats under controls of the systemcontrol unit 360.

The demultiplexer 351 can split (process) the input packets into thenormal data and the robust data as shown in FIGS. 4A through 4C, forexample, according to the controls of the system control unit 360. Asshown in FIG. 4A, the demultiplexer 351 can split (process) normal datapackets and normal parity packets into the normal data, and robust datapackets and robust parity packets into the robust data, or, as shown inFIG. 4B, can split (process) the normal data packets into the normaldata, and can split (process) normal parity packets, robust datapackets, and robust parity packets into the robust data.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the demultiplexer 351 can split (process)the normal data packets into the normal data, and the robust datapackets and the normal and robust parity packets into the robust data.

The packets split into the normal data by the demultiplexer 351 can beprocessed as the normal data according to a normal data processingmethod, and outputted to the multiplexer 355, and the packets split intothe robust data can be processed as the robust data according to arobust data processing method using a certain ratio, for example, ½ or¼, in the R packet processor 353, and outputted to the multiplexer 355.

The interleaving unit 380 can interleave and re-arrange the processeddata packets in bytes according to packet formats. The Trellis encodingunit 370 can apply Trellis encoding to the interleaved data forre-arrangement into bits.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 3. Hereinafter,description will be made in detail on the error correction encodingprocess of FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 4A through 4C.

In an MPEG transmission system (not shown), normal data packets (a) androbust data packets (b) can be stored in the storage unit 311 (S111).

The N/R TRS encoding unit 312 can apply the transversal encoding to thenormal data packets (a) and the robust data packets (b) to generateparity packets (S113). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, normal paritypackets (c) can be generated with respect to the normal data packets(a), and robust parity packets (d) can be generated with respect to therobust data packets (b). Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the N/R TRSencoding unit 312 can generate parity packets (D) with respect to theentire packets of the normal data packets (a) and robust data packets(b).

The PID insertion unit 313 can insert packet headers (PIDs) into paritypackets (S115). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, headers (PIDs) (e) canbe inserted into the normal parity packets (b), and headers (PID) (f)can be inserted into the robust parity packets (b). Further, as shown inFIG. 4C, headers (PIDs) (F) can be inserted into the parity packets (D)generated for the entire packets of the normal data packets (a) androbust data packets (b).

As described above, parity packets can be generated for the normal datapackets or the robust data packets, or for the entire data packets, andheaders (PIDs) can be inserted into the generated parity packets, andthen the parity packets can be stored in the storage unit 311 (S117).

The randomization unit 320 can randomize the data packets and the paritypackets stored in the storage unit 311 in a predetermined pattern(S119).

The RS encoding unit 330 can append a parity of predetermined bytes tothe randomized packets (S121). As shown in FIG. 4A through FIG. 4C,parities of 20 bytes can be appended.

The packet format part 350 can split input packets into the normal dataand the robust data according to the controls of the system control unit360, and can process the normal and robust data according to therespective data formats (S123).

The interleaving unit 380 can interleave the data packets processedaccording to the respective data formats (S125), and the Trellisencoding unit 370 can apply the Trellis encoding to the interleavedpackets for re-arrangement in bits (S127).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with a digital dual-stream broadcasttransmission system according to another embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept. As shown in FIG. 6, the error correctionencoding apparatus may have a randomization unit 410, a TRS encodingpart 420, an RS encoding unit 430, a packet format part 450, aninterleaving unit 460, a Trellis encoding unit 470, and a system controlunit 480.

The randomization unit 410 can randomize in a predetermined pattern thenormal and robust data packets inputted from an MPEG transmission system(not shown), and parity packets fed back from the TRS encoding part 420as well.

The TRS encoding part 420 may have a storage unit 421, an N/R TRSencoding unit 422, and a PID insertion unit 423, can apply thetransversal encoding to the randomized normal data packets and robustdata packets to generate parity packets, and can insert headers (PIDs)into the generated parity packets.

The RS encoding unit 430 can append parities of predetermined bytes tothe randomized data and parity packets.

The packet format part 450 may have a demultiplexer 451, an R packetprocessor 453, and a multiplexer 455, can split individual packetsinputted according to the controls of the system control unit 480 intothe normal data and the robust data, and can process the split dataaccording to respective data formats. Here, the packets can be diverselysplit into the normal and robust data as described in FIGS. 4A through4C.

The interleaving unit 460 can interleave the packets processed accordingto data formats for re-arrangement in byte. The Trellis encoding unit470 applies the Trellis encoding to the interleaved data forre-arrangement in bits.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 6. Hereinafter,description will be made in detail on the error correction encodingprocess of FIG. 7 with reference to FIGS. 4A through 4C.

The normal data packets (a) and the robust data packets (b) can beinputted from the MPEG transmission system (not shown), and therandomization unit 410 can randomize the normal data packets (a) and therobust data packets (b) according to a predetermined pattern (S211).

The randomized normal data packets (a) and robust data packets (b) canbe stored in the storage unit 421 (S213).

The N/R TRS encoding unit 422 can apply the transversal encoding to therandomized normal data packets (a) and robust data packets (b) togenerate parity packets (S215). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the N/RTRS encoding unit 422 can generate the normal parity packets (c) withrespect to the normal data packets (a), and can also generate the robustparity packets (d) with respect to the robust data packet (b). Further,as shown in FIG. 4C, the N/R TRS encoding unit 422 can generate paritypackets (D) with respect to the entire packets including the normal datapackets (a) and the robust data packets (b).

The PID insertion unit 423 can insert headers (PIDs) into parity packets(S217). As shown in FIG. 4A, the PID insertion unit 423 can insert theheaders (PIDs) (e) into the normal parity packets (b), and the headers(PIDs) (f) into the robust parity packets (b). Further, as shown in FIG.4C, the PID insertion unit 423 can insert the headers (PIDs) (F) intothe parity packets (D) generated for the entire packets including thenormal data packets (a) and robust data packets (b).

As described above, the parity packets into which the headers (PIDs) areinserted can be fed back to the randomization unit 410, randomizedaccording to a predetermined pattern, and stored in the storage unit 421(S219).

The RS encoding unit 430 can append parities of predetermined bytes tothe data packets and the parity packets that are stored in the storageunit 421 (S221). As shown in FIGS. 4A through FIG. 4C, the RS encodingunit 430 can append parities of 20 bytes to the respective packets.

The packet format part 450 can split input packets into the normal dataand the robust data according to the controls of the system control unit480, and can process the split data according to respective packetformats (S223).

The interleaving unit 460 can interleave the packets processed accordingto the data formats for re-arrangement in byte (S225), and the Trellisencoding unit 470 applies the Trellis encoding to the interleaved datafor re-arrangement in bit (S227).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctionencoding apparatus used with digital dual-stream broadcast transmissionsystems according to another embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept. As shown in FIG. 8, the error correction encoding apparatus mayhave a randomization unit 510, an RS encoding unit 520, a TRS encodingpart 530, a packet format part 550, an interleaving unit 560, a Trellisencoding unit 570, and a system control unit 580.

The randomization unit 510 can randomize according to predeterminedpatterns the normal data packets and the robust data packets that areoutputted from the MPEG transmission system (not shown), and can alsorandomize the parity packets fed back from the TRS encoding part 530.

The RS encoding unit 520 can append parities of predetermined bytes tothe randomized normal data packets and robust data packets, and can alsoappend parities of predetermined bytes to the randomized parity packetsfed back from the TRS encoding part 530.

The TRS encoding part 530 may have a storage unit 531, an N/R TRSencoding unit 532, and a PID insertion unit 533, can apply thetransversal encoding to the parity-appended normal data packets androbust data packets to generate parity packets, and can insert headers(PIDs) into the generated parity packets.

Here, a process of generating the parity packets can generate paritypackets for data packets to which parities are appended, and can alsogenerate parity packets for data packets except for parities. In a caseof the data packets to which parities are appended, packets can beprocessed through a re-arrangement process before headers are insertedinto the parity packets. That is, if the parity packets are generatedwith respect to the data packets including the parities, the paritypackets may have a size of 207 bytes. Thus, according to 20-byteparities being appended by the RS encoding unit 520, the parity packetscan be re-arranged to the size of 187 bytes.

The packet format part 550 may have a demultiplexer 551, an R packetprocessor 553, and a multiplexer 555, can split input packetstransmitted from the TRS encoding part 530 into the normal data and therobust data according to the controls of the system control unit 580,and can process the normal and robust data according to respective dataformats. Here, the packets can be diversely split into the normal androbust data as described in FIGS. 4A through 4C.

The interleaving unit 560 can interleave the packets processed accordingto the packet formats for re-arrangement in byte. The Trellis encodingunit 570 can apply the Trellis encoding to the interleaved data forre-arrangement in bits.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing an error correction encoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 8. Hereinafter,description will be made in detail on the error correction encodingprocess with reference to FIG. 4A through FIG. 4C.

The normal data packets (a) and the robust data packets (b) can beinputted from an MPEG transmission system (not shown), and therandomization unit 510 can randomize the normal data packets (a) and therobust data packets (b) according to a predetermined pattern (S311).

The RS encoding unit 520 can append parities of predetermined bytes tothe randomized normal data packets (a) and robust data packets (b)(S313).

The storage unit 531 can store the normal data packets (a) and (g) andthe robust data packets (b) and (i) to which parities have been appended(S315).

The N/R TRS encoding unit 532 can generate parity packets with respectto the normal data packets (a) and (g) and robust data packets (b) and(i) that have been stored in the storage unit 531 (S317). Here, aprocess of generating the parity packets can be separated into a processof generating the parity packets with respect to the data packets exceptfor the parities and a process of generating the parity packets withrespect to the data packets including the parities.

In a case of the data packets except for the parities, the N/R TRSencoding unit 532 can apply the transversal encoding only to the dataportions except for the parities (g) and (i) with respect to the datapackets stored in the storage unit 531 in order to generate the paritypackets. As shown in FIGS. 4A through 4C, the N/R TRS encoding unit 532can generate the normal parity packets (c) and the robust parity packets(d) with respect to the normal data packets (a) and the robust datapackets (b) or can generate the parity packets (D) with respect to thenormal data packets (a) and the robust data packets (b).

In a case of the data packets including the parities, the N/R TRSencoding unit 532 can apply the transversal encoding to the data packetsincluding the parities (g) and (i), and can generate the parity packets(S317). That is, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the N/R TRS encoding unit532 can generate the normal parity packet (c) and (h) and robust paritypacket (d) and (j) with respect to the normal data packet (a) and (g)and robust data packet (b) and (i), or can generate the parity packets(D) and (J) with respect to the normal data packets (a) and (g) and therobust data packets (d) and (i). Next, the TRS encoding part 530 canre-arrange the generated parity packets in predetermined bytes. Forexample, the TRS encoding part 530 can re-arrange generated paritypackets of 207 bytes into parity packets of 187 bytes.

The PID insertion unit 533 can insert headers (PIDs) into the generatedparity packets (S319). As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the PIDinsertion unit 533 inserts the headers (PIDs) (e) (f) into the generatednormal packets (c) and (d), or, as shown in FIG. 4C, the PID insertionunit 533 can insert the headers (PIDs) (F) into the generated paritypackets (D).

As described above, the parity packets generated from the TRS encodingpart 530 can be fed back to the randomization unit 510 for randomization(S321), and the RS encoding unit 520 can append parities ofpredetermined bytes to the randomized parity packets (S323). As shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the parities (h) and (j) of 20 bytes can be appended tothe randomized normal parity packets (c) and robust parity packets (d),or, as shown in FIG. 4C, the parities (J) of 20 bytes can be appended tothe randomized parity packets (D).

The parity packets to which the parities of predetermined bytes areappended in the RS encoding unit 520 can be stored in the storage unit531. That is, the storage unit 531 can store one field data as shown inFIGS. 4A through 4C.

The packet format part 550 can split input packets transmitted from theTRS encoding part 530 into the normal data and the robust data accordingto the controls of the system control unit 580, and can process thenormal and robust data according to respective packet formats (S327).

The interleaving unit 560 can interleave the packets processed accordingto the data formats for re-arrangement in byte (S328), and the Trellisencoding unit 570 can apply the Trellis encoding to the interleaved datafor re-arrangement in bit (S329).

Although the error correction encoding apparatuses of the dual-streambroadcast transmission systems of FIGS. 3, 6, and 8 according to theforegoing aspects of the present general inventive concept have beendescribed to be provided with the TRS encoding unit having a storageunit, an N/R TRS encoding unit, and a PID insertion unit, the errorcorrection encoding apparatuses may have a TRS encoding part 610 asshown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the TRS encoding part 610 may have a storage unit611 to store normal data packets and robust data packets, an N-TRSencoding unit 612 to apply the transversal encoding to the normal datapackets to generate normal parity packets, an N-PID insertion unit 613to insert headers (PIDs) into the normal parity packets, an R-TRSencoding unit 614 to apply the transversal encoding to the robust datapackets to generate the robust parity packets, and an R-PID insertionunit 615 to insert headers (PIDs) into the robust parity packets.

That is, the TRS encoding parts, shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8, can bereplaced with the TRS encoding part 610 shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing an error correctiondecoding apparatus used with a dual-stream broadcast reception systemaccording to another embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

The error correction decoding apparatus may have a Trellis decoding unit711, a de-interleaving unit 721, a packet re-format part 730, an RSdecoding unit 741, a de-randomization/randomization unit 743, a TRSdecoding part 750, and a de-randomization unit 761.

The Trellis decoding unit 711 and the de-interleaving unit 721 can applythe Trellis decoding and deinterleaving corresponding to the Trellisencoding and interleaving applied at a transmission system, for example,the transmission system shown in FIGS. 3-10.

The packet re-format part 730 may have a de-multiplexer 731, an R packetprocessor 732, and a multiplexer 733, can split input packets receivedfrom the transmission system through the de-interleaving unit 721 intonormal data and robust data according to the controls of the systemcontrol unit 770, and can process the normal and robust datacorresponding to respective data formats.

The de-multiplexer 731 can split packets in correspondence with formatsof the packets split at the transmission system, as shown in FIGS. 4Athrough 4C, for example, according to the controls of the system controlunit 770.

The de-multiplexer 731 can output to the multiplexer 733 the packetsthat have been split into the normal data, and the R packet processor732 can process the packets that have been split into the robust datainto second normal data according to certain ratios, for example, ½ and¼, of the transmission system, and outputs the second normal data to themultiplexer 733.

The RS decoding unit 741 can correct errors in a row direction of fielddata using the parities of predetermined bytes included in the packets.

The de-randomization/randomization unit 743 can randomize packetsaccording to a predetermined pattern. If the TRS encoding unit is usedbefore the randomization unit as shown in FIG. 3, thede-randomization/randomization unit 743 can randomize all the data andparity packets, and, if the TRS encoding unit is used after therandomization unit as shown in FIG. 6, thede-randomization/randomization unit 743 can randomize only the paritypackets.

The TRS decoding part 750 may have a storage unit 751 and an N/R TRSdecoding unit 753, and can correct packet errors in a column directionusing parity packets. The storage unit 751 can store dataerror-corrected at the RS decoding unit 741 and N/R TRS decoding unit753, information on whether an error has been corrected, and so on.

The de-randomization unit 761 can de-randomize according to apredetermined pattern the data packets that have been error-corrected inthe row direction in the RS decoding unit 741.

In the error correction decoding apparatus used with the dual streambroadcast reception system, the TRS decoding part 750 has been describedto include the storage unit 751 and the N/R TRS decoding unit 753, but aTRS decoding part 810 as shown in FIG. 12 can be used as the N/R TRSdecoding part 750.

As shown in FIG. 12, the TRS decoding part 810 may have a storage unit811 to solve data packets and parity packets, an N-TRS decoding unit 813to apply the transversal decoding to normal data packets using normalparity packets, and an R-TRS decoding unit 815 to apply the transversaldecoding to robust data packets using robust parity packets. That is,the TRS decoding part 750 as shown in FIG. 11 can be replaced with theTRS decoding part 810 as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an error correction decoding process ofthe error correction encoding apparatus of FIG. 3.

The Trellis decoding unit 711 and the de-interleaving unit 721 can applythe Trellis encoding used at the transmission system, and can apply theTrellis decoding and de-interleaving corresponding to the interleavingat the transmission system (S411).

The packet re-format part 730 can split the de-interleaved packets intonormal data packets and robust data packets, and can process datacorresponding to respective packet formats (S413).

The RS decoding unit 741 can use 20-byte parities (g), (h), (i), and (j)included in the packets to correct packet errors in the row direction ofthe field data (S415).

The de-randomization/randomization unit 743 can de-randomize all thedata packets and the parity packets (S417). Here, in the errorcorrection encoding apparatus of FIG. 3, the parity packets generatedfrom the TRS encoding part 310 can be de-randomized packets generatedbased on the de-randomized data packets since the TRS encoding part 310is disposed before the randomization unit 320. Therefore, thede-randomization/randomization unit 743 can de-randomize all the datapackets and the parity packets.

The storage unit 751 can store data error-corrected in the row directionin the RS decoding unit 743 and information on whether errors have beencorrected (S419).

The N/R TRS decoding unit 753 can use the de-randomized parity packetsstored in the storage unit 751 to correct errors in the column directionwith respect to the de-randomized data packets (S421).

Next, the data stored in the storage unit 751 can be updated based onthe data error-corrected in the column direction in the N/R TRS decodingunit 753 and the information on whether the errors have been corrected(S423).

The de-randomization/randomization unit 743 can re-randomize thede-randomized data packets and parity packets stored in the storage unit751 (S425). Here, the RS encoding unit 330 of the error correctionencoding apparatus of FIG. 3 can randomize the data packets and theparity packets before the RS decoding unit 741 applies the RS decodingsince parities have been appended to the randomized data packets andparity packets.

The RS decoding unit 741 can use 20-byte parities to correct errors oncemore with respect to the randomized data packets and parity packets(S427).

The de-randomization unit 761 can de-randomize the error-corrected dataaccording to a predetermined pattern, so the reception system canterminate its error correction (S429).

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an error correction decoding processorof the error correction decoding apparatuses shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, anddescription will be made on the error correction decoding process ofFIG. 14 with reference through FIG. 11.

The Trellis decoding unit 711 and the de-interleaving unit 721 can applythe Trellis encoding used at the transmission system, and apply theTrellis decoding and de-interleaving corresponding to the interleavingused at the transmission system (S511).

The packet re-format part 730 can split the de-interleaved packets intonormal data packets and robust data packets, and can process the normaland robust data corresponding to respective packet formats (S513).

The RS decoding unit 741 can use 20-byte parities included in thepackets to correct packet errors in the row direction of field data(S515).

The de-randomization/randomization unit 743 can de-randomize only theparity packets (S517). Here, the de-randomization/randomization unit 743can de-randomize only the parity packets since the TRS encoding part ofthe error correction encoding apparatuses shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 isdisposed behind the randomization unit and the parity packets generatedfrom the TRS encoding part can be de-randomized packets generated basedon the randomized data packets.

The storage unit 751 can store data error-corrected in the row directionin the RS decoding unit 741 and information on whether errors have beencorrected (S519).

The N/R TRS decoding unit 753 can use the de-randomized parity packetsstored in the storage unit 751 to correct errors in the column directionwith respect to the randomized data packets (S521).

Next, the N/R TRS decoding unit 753 can update the data stored in thestorage unit 751 based on the data error-corrected in the columndirection and the information on whether the errors have been corrected(S523).

The de-randomization/randomization unit 743 can re-randomize thede-randomized data packets stored in the storage unit 751 (S525). Here,the RS encoding unit of the error correction encoding apparatuses shownin FIGS. 6 and 8, can randomize the de-randomized parity packets storedin the storage unit 751 before the RS decoding unit 741 applies the RSdecoding since parities are appended to the randomized data packets andparity packets.

The RS decoding unit 741 can use 20-byte parities to correct errors oncemore with respect to the randomized data packets and parity packets(S527).

The de-randomization unit 761 can de-randomize the error-corrected dataaccording to a predetermined pattern, so the reception system terminatesits error correction (S529).

As aforementioned, the present invention can provide an error correctionencoding/decoding apparatus and method of the digital dual-streambroadcast transmission/reception system to which the TRS encoding anddecoding are applied.

The digital dual-stream broadcast transmission/reception systemaccording to an aspect of the present general inventive concept canobtain an SNR (signal to noise ratio) gain with respect to normal dataand robust data by applying the TRS encoding, and can improve theperformance of an equalizer together with the SNR gain by carrying outthe robust data process with respect to parity packets of the normaldata.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept havebeen shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing fromthe principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope ofwhich is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A digital broadcast reception device to receive at least one of anerror correction coded normal and robust data from a digital broadcasttransmission system comprising an error correction coding unit includinga first encoder and a second encoder, a trellis encoder, and aninterleaving unit, the at least one of the error correction coded normaland robust data comprising a predetermined number of at least one ofnormal and robust data packets, using the first encoder, parities beingadded to one end of each row for the at least one of normal and robustdata packets, and parity packets being generated by the second encodercorresponding to the at least one of normal and robust data packets andthe parities, and being added to the at least one of normal and robustdata packets and the parities column-by-column, the reception devicecomprising: a de-multiplexer configured to split input packets receivedfrom the transmission system into the at least robust data; and an errorcorrection decoding device configured to correct the received errorcorrection coded at least robust data, the error correction decodingdevice comprising: a trellis decoder to trellis decode the at leastrobust data trellis encoded by the trellis encoder of the transmittersystem; a first decoder configured to decode a predetermined number ofthe at least robust data packets using the parities of a predeterminednumber of bytes included in the at least robust data; and a seconddecoder configured to decode the at least robust data packets decoded inthe first decoder using the parity packets.
 2. The digital broadcastreception device of claim 1, wherein parity packets are appended tocorrespond to each of the normal data packet and the robust data packet.3. The digital broadcast reception device of claim 1, wherein paritypackets are appended to correspond to normal data and the robust datapackets together.
 4. A digital broadcast reception device to receive atleast one of error correction coded normal and robust data from adigital broadcast transmission system comprising an error correctioncoding unit including a first encoder and a second encoder, a trellisencoder, and an interleaving unit, the at least one of error correctioncoded normal and robust data comprising a predetermined number of The-atleast one of normal and robust data packets, parity packets beinggenerated by the first encoder corresponding to the predetermined numberof at least one of normal and robust data packets and being added to theat least one of normal and robust data packets column-by-column,parities by the second encoder to be added to one end of each row forthe at least one of normal and robust data packets and the paritypackets, the reception device comprising: a de-multiplexer configured tosplit input packets received from the transmission system into the atleast robust data; and an error correction decoding device configured tocorrect the received error correction coded at least robust data, theerror correction decoding device comprising: a trellis decoder totrellis decode the at least robust data trellis encoded by the trellisencoder in the transmitter system; a first decoder configured to decodea predetermined number of the at least robust data packets using theparity packets; and a second decoder configured to decode the at leastrobust data packets decoded in the first decoder using the parities of apredetermined number of bytes included in the at least robust data. 5.The digital broadcast reception device of claim 4, wherein paritypackets are appended to correspond to each of the normal data packet andthe robust data packet.
 6. The digital broadcast reception device ofclaim 4, wherein parity packets are appended to correspond to normaldata and the robust data packets together.
 7. A digital broadcastreception device to receive at least one of error correction codednormal and robust data from a digital broadcast transmission systemcomprising an error correction coding unit including a first encoder anda second encoder, a trellis encoder, and an interleaving unit, the atleast one of error correction coded normal and robust data comprising apredetermined number of at least one of normal and robust data packets,using the first encoder, parity packets being added to the at least oneof normal and robust data packets column-by-column, and parities beinggenerated by the second encoder corresponding to the at least one ofnormal and robust data packets and the parity packets, and being addedto the at least one of normal and robust data packets and the paritypackets row-by-row, the reception device comprising: a de-multiplexerconfigured to split input packets received from the transmission systeminto the at least robust data; and an error correction decoding deviceconfigured to correct the received error correction coded at leastrobust data, the error correction decoding device comprising: a trellisdecoder to trellis decode the at least robust data trellis encoded bythe trellis encoder in the transmitter system; a first decoderconfigured to decode a predetermined number of the at least robust datapackets using the parities of a predetermined number of bytes includedin the at least robust data; and a second decoder configured to decodethe at least robust data packets decoded in the first decoder using theparity packets.
 8. The digital broadcast reception device of claim 7,wherein parity packets are appended to correspond to each of the normaldata packet and the robust data packet.
 9. The digital broadcastreception device of claim 7, wherein parity packets are appended tocorrespond to normal data and the robust data packets together.
 10. Adigital broadcast reception device to receive at least one of errorcorrection coded normal and robust data from a digital broadcasttransmission system comprising an error correction coding unit includinga first encoder and a second encoder, a trellis encoder, and aninterleaving unit, the at least one of error correction coded normal androbust data comprising a predetermined number of at least one of normaland robust data packets, parities being generated by the first encodercorresponding to the predetermined number of the at least one of normaland robust data packets and being added to the at least one of normaland robust data packets row-by-row, parity packets by the second encoderto be added column-by-column to the at least one of normal and robustdata packets and the parities, the reception device comprising: ade-multiplexer configured to split input packets received from thetransmission system into the at least robust data; and an errorcorrection decoding device configured to correct the received errorcorrection coded at least robust data, the error correction decodingdevice comprising: a trellis decoder to trellis decode the at leastrobust data trellis encoded by the trellis encoder in the transmittersystem; a first decoder configured to decode a predetermined number ofthe at least robust data packets using the parity packets; and a seconddecoder configured to decode the at least robust data packets decoded inthe first decoder using the parities of a predetermined number of bytesincluded in the at least robust data packets.
 11. The digital broadcastreception device of claim 10, wherein parity packets are appended tocorrespond to each of the normal data packet and the robust data packet.12. The digital broadcast reception device of claim 10, wherein paritypackets are appended to correspond to normal data and the robust datapackets together.